Effects of N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine isoquinoline in combination with other inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase on L1210 cells

The 1-isoquinolylmethylene derivative of N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine (HAG) is the most potent agent of the recently synthesized series of HAG-derived ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors. To potentiate the effects of the HAG-isoquinoline drug [HAG-1-isoquinolylmethylene tosylate (HAG-IQ)], we combined it with other inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase. Using mouse leukemia L1210 cell cultures, we tested drug combinations for their cytostatic and cytotoxic properties and for their effects on intracellular ribonucleotide reductase activity and nucleic acid synthesis. Deoxyguanosine or deoxyadenosine combined with HAG-IQ inhibited cell growth in an additive manner; three-drug combinations, HAG-IQ plus either deoxyguanosine/8-aminoguanosine or deoxyadenosine/deoxycoformycin, were strongly synergistic. When Desferal, an iron chelator, was added to these combinations, the four-drug combinations increased inhibition of cell growth and increased cytotoxicity. The intracellular target of these drug combinations in L1210 cells was the ribonucleotide reductase site. The formation of deoxycytidine from [14C]cytidine and incorporation into DNA were markedly inhibited by these drug combinations, while RNA synthesis was unaffected. These data show that the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of HAG-IQ, a potent inhibitor by itself, can be further potentiated in combinations with other ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors.

CTP: CMP phosphotransferase activity in L1210 cells

Substrate converting enzymes interfering with the measurement of ribonucleotide reductase were assessed in cell-free extracts prepared from L1210 cells. Data show the presence of a myokinase-type enzyme activity (CTP:CMP phosphotransferase) which catalyzes the reaction: 2CDP in equilibrium CMP + CTP. This enzyme is not removed by passage of cell extracts over ATP-agarose columns. Monitoring of nucleoside diphosphate substrate level is, therefore, mandatory for obtaining accurate measurements of CDP reductase activity in crude cell extracts.

Leukemia L1210 cell lines resistant to ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors

Leukemia L1210 cell lines, ED1 and ED2, were generated which were resistant to the cytotoxic effects of deoxyadenosine/erythro-9-(2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl)adenine and deoxyadenosine/erythro-9-(2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl)adenine plus 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazole[2,3a]imidazole/Desferal, respectively. The ED1 and ED2 were characterized to show that these cell lines had increased levels of ribonucleotide reductase as measured by CDP reduction. The reductase activity in crude cell-free extracts from the ED1 and ED2 cells was not inhibited by dATP. For CDP reductase, the activation by adenylylimido diphosphate and inhibition by dGTP and dTTP in these extracts from the ED1 and ED2 cells were the same as for the wild-type L1210 cells. The ED1 and ED2 cells were highly cross-resistant, as measured by growth inhibition, to deoxyguanosine/8-aminoguanosine, 2-fluorodeoxyadenosine, and 2-fluoroadenine arabinoside. While the ED2 cells showed resistance to 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-[2,3a]-imidazole/Desferal (6-fold), the ED1 and ED2 cell lines showed less resistance to hydroxyurea, 4-methyl-5-amino-1-formylisoquinoline thiosemicarbazone, and the dialdehyde of inosine. These data indicate that the mechanisms of resistance to the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors are related to the increased level of ribonucleotide reductase activity and to the decreased sensitivity of the effector-binding subunit to dATP.

Properties of N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine derivatives as inhibitors of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase

In previous studies, N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine (HAG) derivatives were demonstrated to suppress growth and clonogenicity of tumor cells which correlated with the inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase and DNA synthesis. The present work has focused on the properties of five HAG derivatives as inhibitors of the ribonucleotide reductase from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. HAG derivatives acted as non-competitive inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase with respect to the substrates CDP and ADP. The apparent Ki values for the various HAG derivatives as inhibitors of CDP reductase ranged from 3.4 to 543 microM. However, the apparent Ki values for these inhibitors with respect to ADP reductase were 2- to 10-fold lower than the respective values for CDP reductase. After a preincubation of HAG derivatives and ribonucleotide reductase in the absence of substrates, an increased inhibition was observed. The activity of the inhibited enzyme could be restored by passage over a Sephadex G-25 column and subsequent incubation with dithioerythritol. The addition of either the non-heme iron subunit or the effector-binding subunit to the intact enzyme in the assay mixture resulted in a diminished inhibition of ADP reduction. Inhibition by HAG derivatives of ribonucleotide reductase activity in the test tube was not enhanced by iron chelators. However, a combination of HAG compounds and iron chelators synergistically inhibited the growth of L1210 cells.

Ribonucleotide reductase as a chemotherapeutic target

Ribonucleotide reductase, because of the critical role that it plays in DNA replication and the specific properties of the protein subunits, provides a unique metabolic target for chemotherapeutic approaches to cancer treatment. Combinations of ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors resulted in synergistic inhibition of cell growth with concurrent cytotoxicity. The drugs in this combination were targeted at the individual subunits (non-heme iron and effector-binding) of ribonucleotide reductase and at the differential sensitivities of the substrate reductions to these agents. The reduction of the intracellular pools of all four dNTPs through the direct inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase has the effect of reducing DNA polymerase activity in a sigmoidal manner rather than in a hyperbolic fashion due to the requirement of DNA polymerase for all four substrates. As a result relatively small decreases in the intracellular concentrations of the dNTPs cause remarkably large decreases in DNA synthesis and hence cell replication. It appears that there may be a relationship between the capability of the cell to synthesize DNA at a minimal absolute rate and cell viability. That is, if DNA synthesis is decreased to or below a specific level, then the processes leading to cell death takes precedence over the tendency of the cell to complete DNA replication leading to cell division.

Calcium ion-dependent proliferation of L1210 cells in culture

Maximum growth of L1210 cells in culture required the presence of free extracellular calcium ions. Reducing the free extracellular calcium ion concentration with EGTA served to decrease the growth rate of the cells. The decrease in cell growth was not due to cell death but rather due to the "pile-up" of the L1210 cells in the GO/Gl phase of the cell cycle. With the readdition of excess calcium ions, there was a lag period of 3 to 6 hours before the L1210 cells initiated DNA synthesis or transited from the G0/G1 phase to S-phase. Cells enriched for S and G2/M phase by elutriation and which were incubated in EGTA-containing culture medium, continued through the cell cycle and were blocked in GO/Gl. These data indicate that the proliferation of L1210 cells in culture requires a calcium ion-dependent process to allow movement from the G0/G1 to S-phase of the cell cycle.

2,6-Diaminopurinedeoxyriboside as a prodrug of deoxyguanosine in L1210 cells

The mode of action of the antiproliferative nucleoside analogue 2,6-diaminopurinedeoxyriboside (DAPdR) has been characterized in cultured L1210 cells. A marked concentration-dependent decrease in DNA synthesis and ribonucleotide reductase activity occurred in L1210 cells exposed to 0.05 to 1.0 mM DAPdR. Concomitantly, dGTP levels increased as much as 1100-fold as compared to untreated controls. Adenosine deaminase efficiently catalyzed DAPdR conversion to deoxyguanosine in vitro. In a comparative study, DAPdR and deoxyguanosine gave similar results. A 50% inhibition of cell growth during a 72-h incubation was achieved with 0.14 mM DAPdR or 0.26 mM deoxyguanosine. Deoxycytidine rescued the L1210 cells from DAPdR and deoxyguanosine toxicity to the same extent. DAPdR and deoxyguanosine counteracted the toxic effects of mycophenolic acid with the same efficiency. While DAPdR was not metabolized to its 5'-triphosphate, 2,6-diaminopurine was converted to 2,6-diaminopurineriboside 5'-triphosphate in L1210 cells; accordingly 50% inhibition of cell growth occurred at 0.015 mM 2,6-diaminopurine. Combinations of DAPdR with erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine or deoxycoformycin resulted in antagonism instead of an expected synergism. These data suggest that DAPdR exerts its toxicity on L1210 cells as a prodrug of deoxyguanosine.

Effects of N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine derivatives on ribonucleotide reductase activity, nucleic acid synthesis, clonogenicity, and cell cycle of L1210 cells

Derivatives of N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine were recently shown to be efficient inhibitors of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase and cancer cell growth. We investigated the effects of the 1-isoquinolylmethylene and the 2-quinolylmethylene derivatives of N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine on intracellular targets, cell viability, and cell cycle of L1210 mouse leukemia cells. A 2-h exposure of L1210 cells to either drug in the low micromolar concentration range led to inhibition of intracellular ribonucleotide reductase activity and DNA synthesis. After a 24-h incubation in the presence of these drugs, RNA synthesis was also markedly diminished. The clonogenicity of L1210 cells was inhibited after treatment with the drugs for 24 and 48 h, the I50 values being comparable to the drug concentrations required for 50% inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. The isoquinoline compound was always more inhibitory to reductase activity, nucleic acid synthesis, and clonogenicity than the quinoline compound. As shown by flow cytometry, the N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine isoquinoline derivative at 0.5-10 microM led to an elevation of G0/G1 cells and a decrease of G2/M and S cells. At 10 microM of the drug this shift remained unchanged over 48 h. L1210 cells treated with 0.5, 1, and 2 microM of the drug overcame the block after 4 to 12 h of exposure and progressed through S- and G2/M-phase in a synchronized manner.

Unresolved issues in the study of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase

Although research on mammalian ribonucleotide reductase and its role in cell replication has been intensified in recent years, there remain several areas in which there is not uniform agreement with respect to several of its important properties. The major issues include: 1) whether there is one enzyme which catalyzes the reduction of all four substrates or several enzymes for the four substrates; 2) whether the two subunits are coordinately regulated as the cells pass from G1 to S during the cell cycle; if not which subunit represents the limiting component and what are the respective half-lives of the individual subunits; 3) whether the allosteric regulation which has been demonstrated in the test tube is the actual mechanism in the intact cells; and 4) is mammalian ribonucleotide reductase part of an enzyme complex which channels ribonucleoside diphosphates into DNA. The data which have appeared in the literature are discussed in the context of these unresolved questions.

Differential turnover of the subunits of ribonucleotide reductase in synchronized leukemia L1210 cells

Ribonucleotide reductase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the de novo synthesis of 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates that is required for DNA replication. The mammalian enzyme consists of two nonidentical protein subunits that are both required for enzyme activity. In leukemia L1210 cells, enriched in G1-phase cells by centrifugal elutriation, it was found that ribonucleotide reductase activity increased as the cells progressed to S-phase. The two subunits making up the holoenzyme did not increase coordinately. The nonheme iron subunit increased much more rapidly than the effector-binding (EB) subunit. The activity of the holoenzyme paralleled the level of the EB subunit, which was limiting. The half-lives of the holoenzyme and its subunits were determined in S-phase cells by treatment with cycloheximide. The half-lives of the holoenzyme and the nonheme iron and EB subunits, as determined by enzyme activity, were 3.5, 7.6, and 4 h, respectively. These half-lives are consistent with the data that indicate that the EB subunit is the limiting component in L1210 cells.

5'-Haloacetamido-5'-deoxythymidines: novel inhibitors of thymidylate synthase

5'-Bromoacetamido-5'-deoxythymidine (BAT), 5'-iodoacetamido-5'-deoxythymidine (IAT), 5'-chloroacetamido-5'-deoxythymidine (CAT) and [14C]BAT were synthesized and their interactions with thymidylate synthase purified from L1210 cells were investigated. The inhibitory effects of these compounds on thymidylate synthase were in the order BAT greater than IAT greater than CAT, which is in agreement with their cytotoxic effects in L1210 cells. In the presence of substrate during preincubation, the concentration required for 50% inhibition of the enzyme activity by these inhibitors was 4-8-fold higher than it was in the absence of dUMP. The I50 values for BAT were 1 X 10(-5) M and 1.2 X 10(-6) M in the presence and absence, respectively, of dUMP during preincubation. These results were in agreement with the observed inhibition of thymidylate synthase by BAT in intact L1210 cells. A Lineweaver-Burk plot revealed that BAT behaved as a competitive inhibitor. The Km for the enzyme was 9.2 microM, and the Ki determined for competitive inhibition by BAT was 5.4 microM. Formation of a tight, irreversible complex is inferred from the finding that BAT-inactivation of thymidylate synthase was not reversible on prolonged dialysis and that the enzyme-BAT complex was nondissociable by gel filtration through a Sephadex G-25 column or by TSK-125 column chromatography. Incubation of thymidylate synthase with BAT resulted in time-dependent, irreversible loss of enzyme activity by first-order kinetics. The rate constant for inactivation was 0.4 min-1, and the steady-state constant of inactivation, Ki, was estimated to be 6.6 microM. The 5'-haloacetamido-5'-deoxythymidines provide specific inhibitors of thymidylate synthase that may also serve as reagents for studying the enzyme mechanism.

Differential sensitivities of the subunits of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase to proteases, sulfhydryl reagents, and heat

Ribonucleotide reductase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the formation of 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates. It consists of two nonidentical protein subunits, the nonheme iron subunit, and the effector-binding subunit. It has previously been shown that these two components making up the active enzyme species are not coordinately synthesized or degraded. It was found that the effector-binding subunit was more sensitive to proteolysis by chymotrypsin, to heating at 55 degrees C, and to the sulfhydryl reagents, pCMB and NEM. The nonheme iron subunit was more sensitive to trypsin treatment. ATP and dATP protected the effector-binding subunit from proteolytic inactivation. Neither ATP nor CDP protected the effector-binding subunit from inactivation by the sulfhydryl reagents. These data indicate that the protein properties of the two subunits of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase are significantly different.

Protein properties of the subunits of ribonucleotide reductase and the specificity of the allosteric site(s)

Ribonucleotide reductase catalyzes the critical reaction in which the deoxyribonucleotides required for DNA replication are synthesized de novo. This enzyme consists of two non-identical protein subunits, both of which are required for enzymatic activity. These subunits consist of a non-heme iron and an effector-binding subunit. These subunits are not coordinately regulated as the cells pass from G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. Studies carried out with the holoenzyme and the isolated subunits indicate that the effector-binding subunit is more susceptible to chymotrypsin and the sulfhydryl reagents, pCMB and NEM, than is the non-heme iron subunit. The non-heme iron subunit is more susceptible to trypsin than is the effector-binding subunit. The presence of ATP or dATP protects the effector-binding subunit from proteolysis by either trypsin or chymotrypsin. The loss of activity in the holoenzyme, as a result of proteolysis, parallels the loss of the particular subunit. These results demonstrate that the protein properties of the subunits are significantly different to account for the differential turnover. The binding of nucleotides to the effector-binding site(s), which in turn regulates ribonucleotide reductase activity, is very specific. Formycin 5'-triphosphate and etheno-ATP could not replace ATP in the CDP reductase reaction. 2',3'-DideoxyATP was 5-fold less active than dATP as a negative effector; etheno-dATP was not inhibitory. AraGTP and BuPdGTP could not replace dGTP as a positive effector of ADP reduction. BuPdGTP, but not araGTP, served as an inhibitor of CDP reduction. 2',3'-DideoxyTTP was much less active as either an activator of GDP reduction or an inhibitor of ADP reduction. These studies indicate that the binding to the allosteric sites is highly specific and suggest that the structural requirements for the binding of activators are different from the structural requirements for the binding of inhibitors.

Nucleoside 5'-diphosphates as effectors of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase

It was found that nucleoside 5'-diphosphates could serve as effectors of ribonucleotide reductase. ADP was an activator of CDP reduction; ADP reduction was activated by dGDP; GDP reduction was activated by dTDP. Conversely, dADP inhibited the reduction of CDP, UDP, GDP, and ADP; dGDP inhibited UDP and GDP reductions; and dTDP inhibited UDP reduction. The inhibition of UDP reduction by dADP, dTDP, and dGDP was at least equal to that observed for dATP, dTTP, and dGTP, respectively. In these experiments with the nucleoside diphosphates as effectors, high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis of the reaction mixtures showed that no nucleoside 5'-triphosphates were found during the reaction period which could account for the effects seen with the nucleoside diphosphates as effectors. Further experiments were carried out in which adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate was used as the positive effector of CDP and UDP reductions in place of ATP. Under these conditions, CDP and UDP reductions were inhibited by dADP, dTDP, and dGDP to the same extent observed in the presence of ATP. ADP served not only as a substrate for ribonucleotide reductase but also as an activator of CDP and UDP reductions. The direct products (dNDPs) also served as positive and negative effectors. Dixon plots indicated that the dNDPs were acting as noncompetitive inhibitors with respect to the substrate. ADP increased the sedimentation velocity of the ribonucleotide reductase in a manner similar to ATP. These data are consistent with the allosteric effects seen with the nucleoside 5'-triphosphates. Additionally, from the thorough study of the role of effectors on UDP reduction, it is clear that UDP reduction was most sensitive to the negative effectors dATP, dADP, dTTP, dTDP, dGTP, and dGDP.

Inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase and L1210 cell growth by N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine derivatives

A series of N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine derivatives was studied for their effects on L1210 cell growth and ribonucleotide reductase activity. With the twelve compounds studied, there was a good correlation between the inhibition of L1210 cell growth and the inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase activity. The most potent compound required concentrations of only 1.4 and 2 microM for 50% inhibition of L1210 cell growth and ribonucleotide reductase activity respectively. These guanidine analogs specifically inhibited the conversion of [14C]cytidine and deoxycytidine nucleotides in the nucleotide pool and the incorporation of [14C]cytidine into DNA without altering the incorporation of [14C]cytidine into RNA. Ribonucleotide reductase activity in drug-treated cells was reduced markedly. Iron-chelating agents did not either increase or decrease the inhibition caused by the N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine derivatives. No evidence was obtained that these derivatives selectively inactivated one of the subunits of ribonucleotide reductase. These compounds appear to inhibit ribonucleotide reductase by a mechanism different from hydroxyurea or the thiosemicarbazone derivatives.

Nucleoside 5'-triphosphate analogs as positive and negative effectors of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase

Ribonucleotide reductase activity is strongly regulated by nucleoside 5'-triphosphates acting as positive and negative effectors. With the use of dGTP analogs, araGTP and dITP, it was found that the structural requirements of dGTP to serve as a positive effector of ADP reductase were not the same as the requirements for dGTP to serve as a negative effector of CDP and ADP reductase activities. The dTTP analogs methylenedTTP and dideoxyTTP also gave different responses in terms of activating GDP reductase activity and inhibiting CDP and ADP reductase activities. Etheno-ATP and etheno-dATP were inactive as positive and negative effectors, respectively, of CDP reductase activity. DideoxyATP was less active than dATP as a negative effector. Formycin ATP was a very poor substitute for ATP as a positive effector of CDP reductase. These studies indicate that the effector sites are very specific in terms of binding nucleoside triphosphates as positive or negative modulators of ribonucleotide reductase activity.

Effect of the dialdehyde derivative of 5'-deoxyinosine on pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside metabolism in L1210 cells

The effects of the dialdehyde derivatives of inosine (Inox) and 5'-deoxyinosine (5'-dInox) on L1210 cells were compared. The growth of L1210 cells was inhibited to a greater extent by 5'-dInox than by Inox. The increased inhibition of L1210 cell growth by 5'-dInox was also reflected by the increased inhibition of the incorporation of precursors into RNA, DNA and proteins. Even though 5'-dInox was a more potent inhibitor, Inox accumulated in the L1210 cells to levels 4- to 5-fold greater than 5'-dInox. The metabolism of [5-3H]deoxycytidine and [5-3H]deoxyuridine by L1210 cells in culture, in the presence of Inox or 5'-dInox, indicated that dCMP deaminase was an intracellular site of action for 5'-dInox. The dCMP deaminase activity in cell-free extracts prepared from 5'-dInox-treated cells was reduced markedly. This decrease in activity was not reversed by increased substrate concentrations nor was the activity subject to allosteric activation by dCTP. Deoxyuridine and deoxycytidine were able to reverse the effects of 5'-dInox on the inhibition of L1210 cell growth.

Combination chemotherapy directed at the components of nucleoside diphosphate reductase

It would be expected that drugs directed at the rate-limiting step in a key metabolic pathway in tumor cell proliferation would provide a useful basis for therapy of neoplasms. Ribonucleotide reductase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the de novo synthesis of dNTP's for DNA synthesis. Further, ribonucleotide reductase is composed of two non-identical protein subunits (non-heme iron and effector-binding subunits) which can be specifically and independently inhibited. As a result, combinations of drugs specifically directed at each of the subunits of ribonucleotide reductase have been shown to cause synergistic inhibition of L1210 cell growth in culture and synergistic cell kill. This approach offers a novel basis for the design of combination chemotherapy.

Drug action on ribonucleotide reductase

Ribonucleotide reductase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in DNA synthesis. It represents a key metabolic site at which specific inhibitors have been directed as potential antitumor agents. Several different classes of ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors have been generated and studied. Because of the nature of the DNA polymerase reaction in which all four dNTPs are required, the initial velocity vs dNTP concentration curve gives sigmoidal rather than hyperbolic kinetics. As a result, a 50 per cent decrease in ribonucleotide reductase activity causes a decrease in DNA polymerase activity of 75 per cent or greater depending on the ratio of [dNTP] to its Km. This has been demonstrated with theoretical calculations, actual DNA polymerase determinations and precursor studies in intact tumor cells. The structural requirements for a compound to serve as a specific inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase, either as the non-heme iron or effector-binding subunit, are stringent. Each protein subunit comprising the active enzyme can be specifically and independently inhibited. When combinations of agents, each directed at one of the subunits of ribonucleotide reductase, are used, strong synergistic inhibition of L1210 cell growth and synergistic cytotoxicity result.

The utility of combinations of drugs directed at specific sites of the same target enzyme--ribonucleotide reductase as the model

Ribonucleotide reductase is a key enzyme in DNA replication and, as such, has been a target for antitumor agents. This enzyme is composed of two nonidentical protein subunits which can be specifically and independently inhibited. Combinations of drugs directed at the effector-binding and non-heme iron subunits of ribonucleotide reductase resulted in the synergistic inhibition of L1210 cell growth and synergistic L1210 cell kill. These combinations included dAdo/EHNA/IMPY/Desferal; dAdo/EHNA/hydroxyurea/Desferal (the EHNA was required to protect dAdo from deamination while Desferal modulated the effects of IMPY or hydroxyurea); 2-F-araA/IMPY/Desferal and 2-F-2'-dAdo/IMPY/Desferal (EHNA was not required to protect 2-F-araA or 2-F-2'-dAdo from deamination); and dGuo/8-AGuo/IMPY/Desferal (8-AGuo was required to protect dGuo from phosphorolysis). Although thymidine alone inhibited L1210 cell growth, it was not possible to potentiate the effects of thymidine with the pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitors, acyclothymidine, 5-chlorouracil and 2,6-dihydroxypyridine. Combinations of drugs directed at the ribonucleotide reductase and DNA polymerase sites were studied for their effects on L1210 cell growth. With these combinations, no synergistic inhibition of L1210 cell growth was observed. The combinations of aphidicolin and IMPY/Desferal and aphidicolin and dAdo/EHNA inhibited L1210 cell growth in an additive manner; the combinations of IMPY/Desferal and BuAU or IMPY/Desferal and BuPdG resulted in antagonistic inhibition of L1210 cell growth. From these results it is clear that combination chemotherapy directed at independent sites of the same key target enzyme can result in strong synergistic inhibition of cell growth and cytotoxicity offering a clear therapeutic advantage. In contrast, the combinations directed at sequential key enzymes (e.g. ribonucleotide reductase and DNA polymerase) did not result in synergistic inhibition of cell growth. The utility of combinations of drugs directed at specific but independent sites of the target enzyme (e.g. ribonucleotide reductase) has been demonstrated in tumor cell systems in culture and now must be demonstrated in vivo.

Studies directed toward testing the "channeling" hypothesis--ribonucleotides----DNA in leukemia L1210 cells

Experiments were carried out to test for the presence of "channeling" in L1210 cells. L1210 cells were incubated in culture in the presence of labeled cytidine and "cold" deoxycytidine and conversely, in the presence of labeled deoxycytidine and "cold" cytidine. Cytidine did not inhibit the incorporation of [14C]deoxycytidine into DNA while deoxycytidine decreased the incorporation of [14C]cytidine into DNA. Further, in L1210 cells there was not a coordinate inhibition of thymidylate synthetase when either DNA polymerase was inhibited (aphidicolin) or ribonucleotide reductase was inhibited (hydroxyurea). These data indicate that leukemia L1210 cells do not selectively channel ribonucleotides to DNA through a tightly coupled enzyme complex.

Preparation of [14C]uridine 5'-diphosphate and [14C]guanosine 5'-diphosphate

Procedures have been developed for the routine enzymatic synthesis of [14C]UDP and [14C]GDP from commercially available enzymes and [14C]UMP and [14C]GMP. Using high pressure liquid chromatography, the products are recovered in high yield (60-80%) and with high purity. The [14C]UDP and [14C]GDP are utilized as substrates for ribonucleotide reductase.

Synergistic inhibition of leukemia L1210 cell growth in vitro by combinations of 2-fluoroadenine nucleosides and hydroxyurea or 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazole[2,3-a]imidazole

9-beta-D-Arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine (2-F-ara-A) and 2-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine (2-FdAdo) were potent inhibitors of L1210 cell growth in culture. Even though these 2-fluoroadenine nucleosides are very poor substrates for adenosine deaminase, erythro-9-(2-hydroxyl-3-nonyl)adenine potentiated the growth-inhibitory properties of 2-FdAdo but not 2-F-ara-A in a synergistic manner. 2-FdAdo and 2-F-ara-A inhibited the conversion of [3H]cytidine to deoxycytidine nucleotides and incorporation into DNA, suggesting that ribonucleotide reductase was an intracellular site of action. 2-F-ara-A (6 microM) in combination with 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazole[2,3-a]imidazole gave synergistic inhibition of L1210 cell growth. At lower concentrations of 2-F-ara-A, the inhibition by this combination was only additive. The addition of Desferal to the combination of 2-F-ara-A plus 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazole[2,3-a]imidazole provided a strong synergistic combination. Similar results were obtained with combinations which included F-ara-A, hydroxyurea, and Desferal. The combinations of 2-FdAdo plus 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazole[2,3-a]imidazole or hydroxyurea gave strong synergistic inhibition of L1210 cell growth, even at the lowest concentration of 2-FdAdo (0.6 microM) studied. The presence of Desferal in the combination served to further potentiate the synergism.

Biological activity and a modified synthesis of 8-amino-3-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine, an isomer of formycin

A two-step synthesis of 8-amino-3-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine (3), which is an isomer of formycin that resembles 3-deazaadenosine, is reported. Compound 3 is also described as as being a very poor substrate for adenosine deaminase and to be both a competitive and an irreversible inhibitor of S-adenosylhomocysteinase in the synthesis direction. L1210 cell growth in culture was inhibited by 3. Compound 3 was not converted to the nucleotide level in erythrocytes but was found to inhibit both the cellular uptake of nucleic acid precursors and their incorporation into the nucleic acids of L1210 cells. Finally, 3 was found to be a weak antiviral agent and coronary vasodilator.